Diaphragm valve



April 6- 'H. A. MANTZ v1:nxmamxcm VALVE:

Filed Sept. 24, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 28, 1.936. H. A. MANTZ 2,033,748

DIAPHRAGM VALVE Filed Sept. 24, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 SAFETY LIMIT PILOT camnon.

' H 02%??? -01" cz a 2 Patented Apr. 28, 1936 UNITED STATES DIAPHRAGM VALVE Harold A. Mantz, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Milwaukee Gas Specialty Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of -Wisconsin Application September 24, 1932, Serial No. 634,707" 11 Claims. 601136-84).

This invention relates to diaphragm valves, and more particularly to diaphragm valves for controlling the flow of gaseous fuel to a furnace or similar appliance.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, I provide a diaphragm valve interposed in a fuel supply line, and operated by electrical actuating means. cordance with the demand for heat in a remotely located room, a suitable thermostat being pro vided for transmitting the heat demand to the diaphragm actuating means. The valve is entirely controlled by electrical energy during the period in which it is in operation, and it may be used in conjunction with "the usual type of electrically operated safety pilot and limit control devices, in which the energy for actuating the Valve is cut off automatically'upon extinguishment of the pilot flame, or upon the passing of acertain limiting temperature point.

The valve is primarily of the weighted diaphragm type, andis provided with a valved bypass leading from the chamber above the diaphragm, this chamber receiving the full pressure of the fluid in the supply line as long as the valved by-pass is opened. However, upon actuation of a relay or magnetic coil, the by-pass is closed, shutting off the supply of fluid thereto, and the fluid already in this chamber escapes through an exhaust port opened by the closing of the valved by-pass. The pressure in the supply line is then sufficient to raise the weighted diaphragm and open the valve, permitting flow of fuel to the furnace or other appliance.

The diaphragm valve of the present invention is characterized by its positive action, its compact assembly, with the electrical actuating means positioned directly above the diaphragm, and the provision of a manual control for open- 40 ing the valve, inasmuch as failure of the electrical energy for the valve actuating mechanism will close the valve. Further, if after manual control has been effected, the electrical connection is again restored, the manual control is au- 45 tomatically released, and the valve continues to be operated through the actuation ofthe magnetic coil.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the following de- 50 tailed description, which, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, will disclose to those skilled in the art the particular con-,

' struction and operation of a preferred embodiment of the invention. 55 In the drawings:

The valve is opened and closed in ac-- Figure 1 is a perspective diagrammatic view showing the interposition of the diaphragm valve in a fuel supply line to a furnace or the like;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the diaphragm valve, with the cover member for the actuating means 5 removed;

Figure 3 is a sectional horizontal view, taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2, showing the operating mechanism for the valve; and

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic circuit illustrating 10 the manner of connecting the valve to the room thermostat or the like.

Referring now in more detail to the drawings, in Figure l I have disclosed a substantially diagrammatic illustration of a furnace or similar 15 appliance, indicated by the reference numeral 5. The burner of the furnace 5 is supplied with fuel through the burner manifold 6, which manifold is connected through the diaphragm valve indicated generally at l, to the gas or other fuel sup- 20 ply line 8 leading from any suitable source of fluid fuel.

The diaphragm valve 1 has an electrical conduit 9 leading therefrom, this conduit conducting the electrical conductors from the room ther- 25 mostat and the electrical current supply line to the valve actuating connection. It is to be understood that the valve I may be placed in any convenient position along the fuel supply line 8, but it is preferably disposed adjacent the mani- 30 fold 6 of the furnace 5. g 1

Referring now in detail to the valve disclosed in Figures 2 and 3, this valve comprises the lower valve housing In, and the upper valve housing I l the housings being secured together by means 35 of a plurality of screws l2 spaced about the periphery of the housings. The lower valve housing Ill is provided with the inlet opening l3 and the outlet opening I4, and has formed centrally therein a valve seat l5, providing communication between the inlet chamber l6 and the outlet chamber l'l.

Disposed concentric with the valve seat I5 is a guide I8 adapted to receive the stem IQ of a weighted diaphragm valve, the valve proper being indicated at 20. The guide I8 is provided with a vent 2| for venting the guide when the stem I9 is moved downwardly therein.

The valve 20 is preferably formed of leather, hard rubber, or the like, and is securely held in position about the stem l9 by means of the cupshaped retainer 22 and the washer 23 which are positioned upon the reduced and threaded upper end of the valve stem l9. This threaded end of the, valve stein extends through a suitable diaphragm member 24, which is formed of any suitable material which can be flexed upon pressure, changes, such as light weight sheet metal, leather or'the like. A suitable weight, comprising a concentric metallic disc 25, is disposed upon the upper surface of the diaphragm 24, and normally urges the diaphragm downwardly to close the valve on the valve seat 15. Thethreaded endv of the valve stem I9 is screwed into the weight 25, clamping'the valve 20 and the diaphragm 24 between the weight 25 and the adjacent end of theenlarged portion of the stem I9. The diaphragm 24 is provided with an extending edge concentricwith the valve housings l0 and II,-

which edge is securely gripped between the housings and is held in position by means of the I bolts l2.

Considering now in detail the upper valve housing II, this housing comprises the extending flange portion 26 which engages the upper surface of the lower valve housing l0, and is provided with an extending cylindrical portion 21 adapted to receive a dome-shaped cover member 28, this cover member being secured to the cylindrical extending portion 21 by means of a plurality of cap screws 29 disposed about the periphery thereof. A suitable gasket 36 is disposed between the contacting edges of the portion 21 of the housing and the dome .28.

The cylindrical portion 2l of the-housing is provided with a central recess 3| adapted to rev ceive the operating mechanism for the valve, and

valve, and associated apparatus.

the housing has a.laterally extending projection 33 adapted to house the pilot valve cage, the This lateral extending portion 33 of the housing I I is provided with a suitable channel 34, which has the hearing sleeve 35 threaded in the inner end thereof.-

The bearing sleeve 35 is adapted to receive the stem 36 of the pilot valve, this stemacting as a push rod for opening or closing the pilot valve. The pilot valve isindicated at 31, and at one end thereof receives the threaded end of the push rod 36', although itis to be understood that this end f may-be formed integral with the push rod if desired. A pilot valve cage nut 38 is seated in the enlarged outer end of the channel 34, and is provided with an internal cylindrical opening adapted to receive the push rod 36. The outer end of the nut 38, as indicated at 39, acts as valve seat for the pilot valve 31.

A pilot valve cage 49 is threaded into the enlarged portion of the recess or channel 34, and has an enlarged ,head portion 4|, which may be gripped by a suitable wrench for securing the valve cage in position. The nut 33 is threaded into the inner end of the valvecage 40, as shown.

An upwardly extending boss 42 is provided on the lateral extension 33; and is threaded to receive an exhaust pipe'43 leading from the exhaust port 44 formed in the extension 33. This exhaust port 44 communicates, through the channel 45 formed in the cage 40, with the enlarged recess portion 46 formed in the cage member, and in-which the valve 31 is adapted to reciprocate.

' The other end of the valve 31 is provided with an extending stem 49, which slides in a suitable guide-way 48 formed in the cage 40, the valve being normally urged into closed position against the valve seat 39 by means of a spring 41fencircling the stem 49. v

The valve 3! permits communication, when in the position shown in Figure 3, between the cross hole leading from the diaphragm chamber exhaust channel 5|, which communicates at its other end with the exhaustchamber 52 disposed above the diaphragm 24, and the channel 45 formed in the valve cage and leading to the exhaust port 44 of the extension 33.

In its other position, the valve 31 is engagedagainst the valve seat 53, thereby closing the exhaust port 44 from communication with the exhaust chamber 52 above the diaphragm. Thus, actuation of the pilot valve 31 will permit opening and closing of the exhaust connection between I against the valve seat 39, and therefore the fluid passing upwardly through the channels 56 and 54 will be retained in the chamber 34 of theextension, and any fluid under pressure in the diaphragm chamber 52 will escape through theexhaust port. However, when the valve is moved to its other position, seating against the valve seat 53, pressure fromthe chamber l6 will pass through the channels 56 and 54 and pass through the valve cage 38 and downwardly through the channel 5| intothe chamber 52 above the diaphragm valve. This equalizes thepressure and the weight closes the valve. The pressure is re- ,tained in the chamber 52, this chamber being closed from communication with. -the recess 3| by means of the panel member 58, which is secured against the shoulder of the housing II by means of screws 59, there being agasket 66 interposed between the panel and the shoulder.

Disposed within the space provided by the dome-shaped cover 28 and the recess "of the upper valve housing ii is the electrical operating mechanism for securing actuation oi. the pilot valve 31. A bracket 62 extending from the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 21 oil the upper valve housing II is adapted to support the electric relay magnet .coil 63, the coil being held in 50 position by means 01' the retaining clip 64. The coil is connected to the terminals 65 and 66 by means of the conductors 61 and 63, respectively.

An armature65' is adapted to be actuated by the coil 63, and is raised or lowered thereby, and

connected to the armature 65' is a pilot valve.

operating arm 69, which arm hasthe depending portion" adapted to beengaged with the inwardlyextending end of the valve push rod 36. The armature 65' is pivoted about a suitable pivot pin 1| extending through the 'bracket 62, the armature having the arm 69 connected therewith. Thus, when current flows through the coil 63, the armature 65' pivots about the pin H and is raised, thus releasing engagement .between the depending portion" oi! the pilot valve operating arm 69 and the push rod 36, which results in the spring- 4'l forcing the pilot valve 3l'to the position shown inFlgure 3.

A manual control is also provided, this manualcontrol comprising the push button 13, whichis adapted to receive the operating 'rod l4, the' push button being movable into and out of arecess 15 formed in the housing- The rod i4 extends through the housing and is secured'to a manual a conductor 95 to the terminal 2, which terminal control slide I6, which" slide is prevented from having lateral movement by a pair of guides 11 riveted or otherwise suitably secured upon the panel 58.

The manual control slide 16 is provided with a camming surface I8 adapted to engage the depending manual control latch 19 carried by the armature 65'. When the control button I3 is pushed inwardly, the latch I9 rides upon the cam surface I8, forcing the armature upwardly, which releases the engagement between the push rod 36 and the control arm I therefor, thus allowing the valve 31 to assume the position shown in Figure 3. The latch 19, is'provided with a latching edge 89, adapted to be engaged over the upper portion of the cam surface I8 for holding the armature in raised position, and for holding the sliding guide I6 in inwardly extending position against the tension of the spring 8I.

It will be noted that the slide I6 carries, at its inner end, an extending arm 83, which may be riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the slide, and which arm 83 is provided with a contact 84 which closes a connection between the stud contact 85 and the terminal 66, by means of the connecting strip 86 disposed upon the under side of the panel 58, which panel is preferably formed of insulating material. This switch is so arranged that on the return of electrical energy a slight movement of the armature will release the manual control and the spring 8| will force it outwardly, and thus return the device to automatic electrical operation. A hand operating handle 88 is provided which has an extending lateral portion 89, this handle being secured to the armature 65' by means of rivets or the like, and which is adapted to be manually engaged for lifting the armature in order to unlock the latching means I9 when it is desired to close the valve without the application of electrical energy.

Considering now the diagrammatic circuit shown in Figure 4, the terminals I and correspond to the terminals 66 and 65 respectively. A-

room thermostat is diagrammatically indicated at 90, and, upon suitable temperature changes, acts to close a contact at 9I to provide a connection between the contact numbers I and 5 in the circuit. This causes current to flow from the line indicated at 92 through the transformer 93 and through the terminal number 6 to the room thermostat and from the thermostat to the contact number I, and through this contact and the armature coil 63 .back to the line 92. If desired, a safety pilot control, for positively closing the valve by opening the circuit when the pilot flame in the furnace is extinguished, may be inserted between the contact terminals numbers 6 and 4, and a limit control or a time control may also be inserted in series with the above mentioned control, in order to open the circuit when a certain maximum temperature has been reached, or in order to open the circuit at a certain predetermined time. The safety pilot and limiting controls are correspondingly marked in r v Figure 4.

As shown in Figure 2 the terminals No. 5 and No. 6 are connected to the electric power supply,v

the return from the thermostat 98 is lead to the terminal No. I. If a time delay, circuit is to be employed, the room thermostat 90 may have a secondary contact point 94, which leads through current is renewed and the armature 65 is slightly actuated, the contact at 96 is broken by the return of the manual control slide to normal position, and the current must then pass through terminals Nos. 6, 4, and 3 and through the room thermostat 90 to terminal No. I.

In the operation of the diaphragm valve, when the terminals Nos. I' and 3 are connected by the room thermostat, current flows through the coil 63, and raises the armature 65 to provide disengagement between the push rod control arm Ill and the push rod 36, the pilot valve 31 thus seating against the valve seat 39. This permits any gas pressure existing in the chamber 52 above the diaphragm 24 to be exhausted from the chamber, and the pressure of the gas in the inlet side of the lower valve housing forces the weighted diaphragm valve 20 upwardly from the valve seat I5, allowing flow of gas past the valve seat and out through the outlet I4 to the manifold 6 of the furnace 5. When the room thermostat breaks the circuit between contact terminals Nos. I and 3, the coil is deenergized, and the armature 65' drops downwardly, the engagement between the arm I0 and the push rod 36 forcing the pilot valve 31 to seat against valve seat 53. This permits gas from the inlet side of the valve or inlet chamber I6 to pass through channels 56 and 54 and through channel 5| to the chamber 52 above the diaphragm, the gas pressure being equal to the pressure existing in the gas in the inlet chamber I6. However, because of the weight 25, the valve is forced downwardly, against the valve seat I5, and closes off flow of fuel through the valve. Thus, the room thermostat controls the opening and closing of thefuel supply to the furnace.

If manual control is desired, the manual control button I3 is pushed inwardly, and the slide I6 raises the armature, permitting the pilot valve 31 to open the exhaust port and thus raise the valve 20 from seat I5. Fuel will now pass through the valve until the armature 55' is either automatically or manually returned to lowered position. This may be manually accomplished by removing the dome shaped cover 28 and raising the armature by means of the latch 89 in order to disconnect the latching means 80 of the depending latch member I9, allowing the manual slide I6 to return to normal position, after which the armature will return to lowered position. However, this may also be done automatically, since the contact shoe 84 carried by the slide I6 engages the contact stud- 85 to provide electrical connection between terminals-Nos. 6 and I, so that upon return of electrical energy the coil 63 will raise the armature to automatically release the latching means, after which the valve will be under full electrical control again.

If a time delay circuit is desired, I have provided the two spring contact fingers 98 and 99, which are connected to the time delay circuit. Each of these contact fingers carries a contact button I09 at the upper end thereof, the contact. buttons I00 being spaced apart when ,the armature is in lowered position. However, the pilot valve operating arm '69 carries a-cam pin IIlI,

. contact fingers 99, and as the armature is raised,

this cam pin llll forces the finger 99 toward the finger 98, thus forcing the contact buttons IOI' into abutting engagement to close a-contact for the time delay circuit. The provision of this circuit, however, is optional. V

It isthus apparent that I'have providedv a diaphragm -valve which is positive in operation, and which may be either automatically or manually operated, and which, in manual operation, may be so connected as to-be automatically disengaged by the return of electrical current to the circuit.

I do not intend to be limited to the exact details shown and described in the preferred embodiment of my invention, but only insofar as defined by the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a valve of the class described, diaphragm valve means for controlling flow of fluid through said valve, means for actuating said diaphragm valve means including a pressure chamber, a slidable valve member adapted, in one position, to admit fluid under pressure to said chamber, and in a second position to provide for escape of fluid from said chamber, spring means normally tending to maintain said valvein said second position, a magnetically operated lever for forcing said valve to said first position, latching means carried by said lever, and a spring pressed latch member adapted to engage said lever for releasing said valve to said second position irrespective of the position of said lever, said latching means holding said latch member in engaged position when said lever is not magnetically actuated.

2. In a valve of the class described, pressure responsive valve means, means for controlling the admission of fluid under pressure to said valve means, means for operating said controlling means, electrical responsive means actuating said operating means, a latch member for moving said operating means into actuated position to maintain said valve means open when said electro responsive means is unenergized, contacts in said valve .connected to said electroresponsive means,

means carried by said latch member for engaging said contacts when said latch member is in operating position, and means carried by said actuating means for releasing said latch member upon reenergization of said electroresponsive means.

3. Incombination, a valve housing, a diaphragm valve therein, a pressure chamber on one side of said valve, means for admitting fluid underpressure to said chamber and providing for escape of fluid therefrom, automatic means for actuating said last named means including an armature, a. magnetic coil and an electrical supply circuit connected to said coil and in series connection-withathermally sensitive member, said armature in energized position providing for cacape of fluid from said chamber, means for manually holding said armature in energized position when said circuitis disconnected'to provide for venting of said pressure chamber, and means carried by said last named means providing for direct connection of said circuit through said.

coil independently of said thermally sensitive member when said circuit is reconnected to en-' ergize said armature and release said manual holding means.

'- 4. In combination, a diaphragm valve, electrical actuating-means for said valve including a'horizontally-pivoted armature, manually operable means disposed above and extending normal' to the axis of said valve for rotating said armature into valve actuating position when said electrical means is deenergized, spring means normally urging said manually operable means out of engaged position with respect to said arma-. ture, and latching means carried by said armature and operative only when said electrical ac.- tuating means is deenergized for holding said manual means in engaged position.

5. In combination, a valve housing having a valve seat therein, a second housing secured thereto, said second housinghaving .a plurality of concentric bores, a pressure chamber formed in one of said bores, an electrical insulating panel secured in'another of said bores and defining a wall of said pressure chamber, electrical'actuating means for said valve mounted on said. panel, and electrically responsive pressure control means connected to said electrical actuating means and disposed in another of said bores and supported by said second housing and said panel. I

6. In combination, a pair of housings, a valve seat in one of said housings, a diaphragm valve. secured between said housings, a pressure chamber formed in the other housing, a longitudinal bore in said other housingextending substantially parallel to the plane of said valve, opposed valve means in said bore, duct means leading into said bore, said valve means controlling fluid flow through said duct means, and electrically responsive -means disposed centrally within said other housingand engaging said valve means to control the pressure in said pressure chamber.

7.'In combination, a pair of housings, a valve seat in one of said housings, a diaphragm valve secured between said housings, a pressure cham-- said valve means when said automatic means is rendered inoperative.

8. In combination, a pair of housings, a valve seat in one of said housings, a diaphragm valve secured between said housings, a pressure chamber formed in the other housing, valve means extending substantially parallel to the plane of said valve and reciprocable to control the pressure in said chamber, automatic thermally responsive means for reciprocating said valve means, means extending substantially axially of said valve means for manually operating said valve means when said automatic'means is ren-' dered inoperative, and means carried by said automatic means and enga ing said manually operable means only when said automatic means is. deenergized for holding-said manually operable meansin engaged position. I

- 9. In combination, a diaphragm valve having inlet and outlet ope n s. at pressure chamber above said valve, means providing communi.

cation between said inletopening and aid sure chamber, exhaust means for said pressure chamber, valve means between said communicating means and said exhaust means, automatically operable means connected to a source of power for actuating said valve means, remotely disposed thermallvsensitive means for controlling said automatic means from said source of power,

and independent manually operable means for stat connected to said s'upplyline, a fuel supply operating said valve means to maintain said exprising an electrical supply line, a thermostat connected to said supply line, a diaphragm valve for controlling the fuel supply to said heating system, means for opening said valve including a coil connected to said thermostat, means for maintaining said valve open when said line is unenergized including a Contact member engaging a pair of contacts for shunting said thermostat, and means for releasing said last-named means upon reenergization of said supply line.

11. A control circuit for a heating system comprising an electrical supply line, a thermoline, a diaphragm valve disposed in said fuel supply line, means for controlling said diaphragm valve including means providing for admission and escape of fluid under pressure on one side of said valve, a coil, anarmature adapted to actuate said controlling means, said coil being electrically connected to and energized by movement of said thermostat, switch contacts directly connecting said coil with said electrical supply line,

means for moving said armature into energized position when said electrical supply line is unenergized and for simultaneously closing said 

